Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Bancroft played in minor league baseball from 1909 through 1914, at which point he was bought by the Phillies. The Giants traded for Bancroft during the 1920 season. After playing for the Giants through the 1923 season, he became player-manager of the Braves, serving in that role for four years. After he was fired by the Braves, Bancroft played two seasons for the Robins and ended his playing career with the Giants the next season. He coached with the Giants, then managed in the minor leagues and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Bancroft was part of the Giants' World Series championship teams in 1921 and 1922. He was also a part of the National Leaguepennant-winning teams of 1915 and 1923. Considered an excellent defensive shortstop and a smart ball player, Bancroft was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1971. However, his election was not without controversy, as the Veterans Committee included former teammates of Bancroft, resulting in charges of cronyism against the Veterans Committee.

Bancroft was born in Sioux City, Iowa, the youngest of three children of Ella (née Gearhart) and Frank Bancroft. Frank worked as a news vendor on the Milwaukee Railroad.[1][2] Bancroft attended Hopkins Grade School and Sioux City High School.[1]

The Portland Beavers of the Class-AA Pacific Coast League (PCL) drafted Bancroft from Superior for the 1912 season.[1] He struggled in 1912, batting .207, and was demoted to the Portland Colts of the Class-B Northwestern League in 1913. After batting .244 for the Colts, he was promoted back to the Beavers in 1914, where he batted .271 and drew comparisons to former Beavers star shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh as the team won the PCL championship.[1] While with the Beavers, Bancroft earned the nickname "Beauty", for his habit of referring to pitches as "beauties" while he batted.[1][5]

Bancroft batted third in the Phillies' lineup in 1916.[4] However, he slumped to a .212 batting average that season, the lowest of his career. Despite his offensive struggles, he gained recognition for his fielding skills, and an injury to Bancroft late in the season contributed to the Phillies' poor play late in the season.[12][13]

Bancroft feuded with Cravath, who became the Phillies' manager in 1919.[14] Before the 1919 season, Bancroft requested a trade to the Cincinnati Reds,[15] but the trade request was not granted. John McGraw, manager of the New York Giants, coveted Bancroft due to his intelligent and hard-nosed style of playing. Upon McGraw's urging, the Giants traded Art Fletcher, Bill Hubbell and $100,000 ($1,250,664 in current dollar terms) to the Phillies for Bancroft on June 7, 1920.[1][16]

With the Giants, Bancroft was an able performer.[17] His 102 runs scored during the 1920 season were second only to new Giants teammate George Burns.[18] On June 1, 1921, in a game the Giants won against the Phillies, Bancroft hit for the cycle.[19][20] His 153 games played in the 1921 season tied for second in the NL with several others, behind only Rogers Hornsby. He also tied teammate Frankie Frisch for second with 121 runs scored, behind only Hornsby, while his 193 hits were eighth-best and his .389 on-base percentage was ninth-best in the NL.[21] However, he only batted .152 in the 1921 World Series, which the Giants won over the New York Yankees in eight games.[22]

Bancroft played in all 156 games in the 1922 season. He tied Jack Smith for third with 117 runs scored, finished third with 209 hits, and tied Bob O'Farrell for second with 79 walks.[23] His .321 batting average was his career-high. He set an MLB record for the most fielding chances by a shortstop in a season (984).[24] Though the Giants swept the 1922 World Series from the Yankees in four games, he again had a poor World Series, batting .211.[25]

Bancroft served as player–manager for the Braves for three seasons, from 1924 through 1927. Upon becoming manager, he became the youngest manager in the National League (NL).[1][33] He missed time during the 1924 season with appendicitis.[34] After finishing in last place in the eight-team NL, Bancroft overhauled the Braves' roster for the 1925 season.[35] However, he lost the services of Rube Marquard and Joe Genewich,[36] and the Braves finished in fifth place.[37] Bancroft suggested that Bob Smith, ineffective as an infielder, become a pitcher; Smith's successes as a pitcher benefited the Braves' starting rotation.[38] The Braves lacked offense going into the 1926 season,[39] but hoped their pitching and defense could lead them into contention.[38][39] The Braves finished in seventh place in the NL in 1926 and 1927.[40][41]

Failing to turn the Braves into a winning team, Bancroft requested his release from the team after the 1927 season. He signed with the Brooklyn Robins the same day.[42][43] Stating that he was happy to no longer have the stress of managing,[44] he played for the Robins for the 1928 and 1929 seasons. During his time with the Robins, he was seen as a possible successor to manager Wilbert Robinson.[45]

The Robins released Bancroft after the 1929 season, and he returned to the Giants as assistant manager and coach, serving under McGraw.[46] He ended his MLB playing career in 1930. He remained as a coach, filling in for McGraw when he was too ill to manage.[1][3][47] During the 1930 offseason, he led a team of MLB players on an exhibition trip to Cuba.[48] When McGraw retired in 1932, the Giants appointed Bill Terry as player-manager. Surprised and disappointed that Terry was chosen over him, Bancroft left the Giants.[1][3]

After retiring as a player, Bancroft managed in minor league baseball. He managed the Minneapolis Millers of the Class-AA American Association in 1933.[49] Though the Millers reached the championship series,[50] he was not retained for the 1934 season, as the Millers sought a player-manager to help the team reduce costs.[51][52]

Grover Cleveland Alexander, Bancroft's teammate in Philadelphia, and Hughie Jennings, his coach in New York, considered Bancroft one of the best shortstops in MLB.[17][59] Sportswriter Frank Graham called Bancroft "the greatest shortstop the Giants ever had and one of the greatest that ever lived."[1] Bancroft is still considered to be among the top fielders in baseball history.[60][61] He was also considered one of the fastest shortstops in baseball.[13] In contrast to other great fielding shortstops, Bancroft was noted for his offensive ability.[62]

"Bancroft is one of the greatest shortstops in the history of the game. He can go equally well to his right or left, has a great arm, and is a good hitter. In addition, he is pretty fast on his feet. The best thing about Bancroft is, he can think. He uses his brain. He is more than a great mechanical player. A player like Banny at short means everything to a ball club."

Despite the criticism of players elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in this period, Bancroft grades well in terms of sabermetric statistics. He finished fourth in the NL in Wins Above Replacement in 1920 (6.5) and third in 1921 (7.2) and 1922 (6.0).[69][70][71] Bancroft was also inducted in The Des Moines Register's Iowa Sports Hall of Fame.[2]

Bancroft married Edna Harriet Gisin while he played minor league baseball. They had no children and lived in Superior, Wisconsin, for the remainder of their lives.[1]

After retiring from baseball, Bancroft worked as a warehouse supervisor for Interprovincial Pipeline Company. He retired in 1956 and spent his later years hunting and fishing.[1] Bancroft died on October 9, 1972, in a hospital in Superior at the age of 81.[24]